NTSB Safety Recommendation P-87-039

NTSB safety recommendation P-87-039.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ALPHA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY: EMPHASIZE TO ITS EMPLOYEES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAND DIGGING WHEN EXCAVATING NEAR GAS AND OTHER UTILITY LINES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1987-09-02

Adopted Date: 1987-08-17

Overall Date Closed: 1991-02-21

Synopsis: A NEW WATER MAIN WAS BEING INSTALLED ALONG 14TH STREET IN CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS BY THE ALPHA CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (CONTRACTOR). BEFORE THE WORK WAS BEGUN THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY MARKED THE LOCATION OF ITS SERVICE LINES AND MAINS. ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 13, 1986, WHILE EXCAVATING EAST OF THE MARKED SERVICE LINE FOR 204 14TH STREET, THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW SNAGGED A GAS SERVICE LINE WITH A BACKHOE. BECAUSE THIS GAS SERVICE LINE WAS APPROX IMATELY 4 FEET AWAY FROM THE MARK AND BECAUSE OF THE LINE'S DETERIORATED CONDITION, THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW ASSUMED CORRECTLY THAT IT WAS ABANDONED AND USED IT AS AN INDICATION THAT THEY WERE NEAR THE AREA OF THE THE ACTIVE SERVICE LINE. THE FOREMAN INSTRUCTED THE BACKHOE OPERATOR TO TAKE OFF THE "FROST" USING THE BACKHOE, IN PREPARATION FOR EXCAVATING BY HAND DIGGING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ABOUT 7:30 A.M., THE BACKHOE SNAGGED THE ACTIVE, WRAPPED, 3/4-INCH STEEL NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINE FOR 204 14TH STREET. THE LINE WAS OPERATING AT 28 PSIG AND WAS 30 INCHES BELOW THE SURFACE. ACCORDING TO THE FOREMAN, THE CREW COULD SMELL GAS BUT THEY DID NOT OBSERVE ANY BLOWING GAS AROUND THE SNAGGED SERVICE LINE. THE FOREMAN RADIOED HIS OFFICE AND REPORTED THE LEAK. AT 7:37 A.M. THE OFFICE PERSONNEL CALLED THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS GAS COMPANY (GAS COMPANY) AND INFORMED THE GAS COMPANY OF THE ACCIDENT BUT RECEIVED NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM IT. THE GAS COMPANY'S CALL RECORD SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A LINE HIT REPORTED AT ROUTE 30 (14TH STREET) AND GARDEN. THE RECORD HAD THE FOLLOWING HANDWRITTEN NOTE, "HIT LINE-DON'T KNOW IF BLOWING"; HOWEVER, THE RECORD WAS STAMPED "LEAK."

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA86FP011

Report Number: PAR-87-01-SUM

Addressee Name: Alpha Construction Company, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1991-02-21

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1990-11-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALPHA CONSTRUCTION CO. HOLDS REGULAR SAFETY MEETINGS WITH ALL EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE EMPHASIZED TO ALL EMPLOYEES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAND DIGGING WHEN EXCAVATING NEAR GAS & OTHER UTILITY LINES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRESS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1990-11-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1991-02-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence